Gem in the Hidden Mountain of Shigaraki

Miho Museum (美秀美術館) is a private museum managed by the religious group Shinji Shumeikai (神慈秀明会). It is named after the founder of the group, Mrs. Mihoko Koyama and initially housed the vast collection of tea ceremony utensils and Asian antiquities collected by her. The collection was subsequently grew into a vision of an art museum, aligning with Koyama’s vision of promoting beauty, peace and joy through art.

The museum is a place that I have been longing for a visit.

Yes, for a very long time.

In fact, I had been there before but not exactly visited the museum. Why?

Miho Museum (美秀美術館) is a private museum managed by the religious group Shinji Shumeikai (神慈秀明会). It is named after the founder of the group, Mrs. Mihoko Koyama and initially housed the vast collection of tea ceremony utensils and Asian antiquities collected by her. The collection was subsequently grew into a vision of an art museum, aligning with Koyama’s vision of promoting beauty, peace and joy through art.

The museum is a place that I have been longing for a visit.

Yes, for a very long time.

In fact, I had been there before but not exactly visited the museum. Why?

Back in 2006 while I was touring with my wife in Kyoto, we had no specific place to go on one rainy day. I looked up the GPS searching for places to go around the area. All of a sudden, a very familiar name came to sight, Miho Museum – one that I learnt from a documentary years ago.

Without any further checking, I drove up to Miho Museum. That trip was a little scary. The rain was quite heavy and it was terribly foggy. It took me more than an hour to climb along those narrow and hilly roads. By the time I arrived, Oh My God, I found that the museum was closed few days ago for change of exhibit.

So if you want to visit Miho Museum, make sure to check their website for the museum schedule.

During my recent holiday tour to the Biwako area, I finally have the chance to visit the Miho Museum.

Why so Special?

The story began with the Joy of Angels Bell Tower, designed by the famous Chinese American architect I. M. Pei, at Shinji Shumeikai International in Misono. I. M. Pei, born in 1917 in China and went to US for studying architecture. Major design works included the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum in Massachusetts, the East Building of the National Gallery of Art in Washington DC, Bank of China Building in Hong Kong, Bank of China Head Office in Beijing and Grand Louvre in Paris.

In 1991, thrilled by the success of the Bell Tower, Miss Koyama commissioned Pei to build the Miho Museum, located on the mountain of Shigaraki, Shiga Prefecture.

Pei’s design was inspired by the famous Chinese tale of “Peach Blossom Valley” by Tao Yum Ming.

There once lived a fisherman in Eastern China. One day, as he was rowing up a mountain stream, he came across a peach orchard in full bloom

Your exploration starts with a slow climb along the Approach to the Museum

At the end of the orchard, he noticed a ray of light coming from a small cave at the foot of a mountain.

Tunnel at the end of the climb with cherry blossom trees along the sides (sorry I was not in the right season!)

Once inside, he found himself on a narrow road,

The Metallic tunnel

but traveling deeper, a splendid view suddenly opened before him.

Strolling along the metallic tunnel and prepare for the scenery ahead

The wonderful Miho Museum on the other side of the tunnel

There was the Shangri-La.

Electric Cart Stop in front of the Miho Museum main building

As the piece of land was within a nature reserve, there were a number of restrictions that must be followed:

Any building structure here must be opened to public – Despite the museum is privately owned, it is designed for public visit

Height of building must not exceed 10 meters – To meet the restriction without downsizing, 80% of the museum is built deep inside the mountain with only just 20% is exposed. Trees and earth were removed to make place for the building site and then relocated back once the construction was completed.

All building structures must be sloped and not affecting the natural environment of the area – This is how Mr. I. M. Pei making use of basic geometric shapes to design the silhouette to be in-lined with the mountains here – An architectural masterpiece.

Miho Museum – A traditional Japanese style building that harmonised with the surrounding

How to Get There?

Public bus service operated by Teisan is available from the Ishiyama JR Station to the Miho Museum Bus Stop. Bus frequency is about once in every hour.

You can also go by car via Shiga Prefectural Route 12 towards Shigaraki. Free parking space is available in front of the museum. However, pay attention when driving along Route 12 as it is steep and narrow. There are many sections that only support single lane traffic. In fact, the museum will be closed during winter period from December to March of the following year due to snowing.

Since we lived in hotel next to the Seta JR Station and the bus stop, we took a slightly different route by boarding the Teisan bus at the station towards Ishiyama JR Station and changed to the Miho Bus at the Hashimoto Bus Stop.

Seta JR Station and the Teisan Bus Stop

Hand drawn instruction for changing bus to Miho Museum

Getting off at the Hashimoto Bus Stop

Changing bus to Miho Museum at the Hashimoto Bus Stop in Sekisho-no-michi

Onboard the public bus towards Miho Museum

Bus fares varied across location (bus stop) of boarding the bus

Paying bus fare at the end of the bus journey

Our Visit to Miho Museum

Other than taking the public bus or by car, there are also bikers and cyclists who enjoyed riding up the steep roads to the museum.

Two types of bikes living in harmony @Miho Museum

After getting off the bus next to the parking area, the first place came to sight is the Reception Pavilion where the ticketing counter is located. It also housed one of the two restaurants, the Peach Valley, where we would have our lunch later on.

Reception pavilion looking from the museum car park

Across the bus stop to the Miho Museum reception pavilion

Staircase to the Miho Museum reception pavilion

Miho Museum reception pavilion

Lobby of the reception pavilion

Admission fee is ¥1,100 for adults and ¥300 for kids over age of six.

Paying the museum admission fees

Before going into details, take a look at the aerial views of the Miho Museum.

Aerial View with Reception Pavilion at the bottom and Museum main building at the top

Aerial View of the Museum main building and the suspension bridge

Free electric cart is available to take you along the Approach to the main museum block on the other side of the mountain.

Electric Cart bring visitors to the Miho Museum

To better enjoy the scenery of the nature reserve, we deliberately walked along the Approach instead.

Boys posing in front of the tunnel

If you looked back from the tunnel and at the right season (of course I’m not!), you would have a view full of the cherry blossom trees, a vibrant pink color that looked really great.

Looking back from the metallic tunnel

A suspension bridge linking to the Museum at the end of the tunnel

Suspension bridge viewing from the main museum building

Looking out from the suspension bridge linking the tunnel to the Museum

Architectural View of the Miho Museum

Going inside to the main hall of the Miho Museum

1F – Miho Museum

Here it comes the Entrance Hall.

The Entrance Hall at 1F of the Miho Museum

It’s really hard to describe the scenery in words.

Mr. I. M. Pei cleverly making use of natural light as the key and utilised basic geometric shapes as the building blocks to the Museum.

Right in front of the windows are old pine trees that were removed during building of the Museum and relocated back afterward. Their original locations and postures were carefully maintained. A respect to the environment and the mastery work of the Japanese engineers and builders.

The long wooden bench on the lower left of the above photo was craved out from one tall pine tree. The way it was cut was to preserve the original shape of the trunk.

At the far end, you would also see the Bell Tower at Misono and the Shrine of Shumei located at the headquarters of the Shinji Shumeikai.

Looking out from the main hall – Bell tower at Misono (left) and the Shrine of Shumei (right)

The Rotary of the Museum at B1F – Used for Electric Cart Stop in summer and rainy days

Lunch at the Miho Museum

Our visit to the Miho Museum couldn’t be completed without having the wonderful lunch there.

At the South Wing of the Museum, there is the Pine View Tea Room serving drinks, sandwiches and desserts. A good place for a break during your visit to the museum collection. As we all felt hungry after the visit, we preferred to have full lunch at the Peach Valley Restaurant at the Reception Pavilion.

In fact, both the Pine View Tea Room and Peach Valley used ingredients produced by the Shumei Natural Agricultural approach which is free from any additives including fertilisers and agrochemicals.

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Published by mynewchapterinlife

A so call "Seasoned IT Professional" who has worked for over 26 years in the Information Technology / Financial industry. One day it came to mind that should I continue to work in a fast lane or take a break.
Without any hesitation, I quit my job and start my new life.
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